The game was the first of a three-game series that will continue Sunday at 2 p.m. The Cougars improve to 19-27 on the season while the Hornets fall to 18-29-1.

Through the end of five innings both teams were scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning when Washington State’s Brady Everett singled to right field scoring Scott Suttmeier.

With a 1-0 lead, the Cougars added three runs in the seventh inning when Jeff Miller was walked with the bases loaded scoring Jason Freeman. After one out was recorded, Zach Franklin was then walked, scoring Jim Murphy and extending the Cougars lead to 3-0. Suttmeier’s sacrifice fly that scored Garrett Kimbrel was the final run of the inning.

The Cougars added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth when Everett and Murphy both hit home runs to left field. James Freeman (7-5) earned the win on the mound for Washington State after pitching 7.2 innings and scattering six hits without allowing a run. He also recorded six strikeouts.

Washington State became the first team to hold the Hornets scoreless this season.

Sacramento State scattered seven hits in the game and left eight runners on base. Senior Brett Flowers led the offense going 2-for-4 from the plate and junior Brian Blauser recorded his sixth double of the season.

Senior right-hander Ethan Katz (5-8) pitched five scoreless innings before allowing four runs on six hits and taking the loss for the Hornets in six total innings of work.

Sacramento State and Washington State are now 2-2 against one another this season and the Hornets are 5-7 against Pac-10 opponents.

This weekend’s three-game series will continue on Sunday with the first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. The final game will be played Monday at noon.